How A Termite Infestation Can Eat Away At Your Home’s Property Value

Determining specific property values can be a complicated task that doesn’t necessarily have a standard outcome. A number of factors determine a home’s worth. An assessor uses a variety of metrics and formulas to assign a specific dollar amount to a home, most importantly its location. A multitude of other factors beyond an owner’s control might sway that initial estimate.

A constant throughout the valuation process, however, is a report detailing the home’s current pest status, with a primary emphasis on termites and any related damage. Indeed, termites have an incredible ability to destroy a home’s entire value. Spreading from the foundation to the roof, these insects can just as easily ruin a newly constructed home as they can a decrepit, older building.

Simply put, no home is safe from a termite infestation.

As you can imagine, termite damage will have a significant impact on how an appraiser calculates the real value of a home and can drastically affect the property’s overall value. Whether you’re newly entering the housing market, selling your existing home, or looking to refinance your home loan, you should always consider a termite inspection prior to beginning any of those processes. In this blog post, we present three different perspectives and how a termite inspection will give you peace of mind in each instance.

Selling

Now that you have made the decision to put your house on the market and enter the selling process, you should have an accurate report prepared for anyone looking to purchase your home. As a seller, you are legally required to provide any information regarding any termite damage on your home through a disclosure agreement. However, your home’s termite damage may not be readily apparent and could be missed during the reporting process without a professional examination. If you have any hesitation with regard to your home’s current status, contact a pest control specialist before engaging in conversations with potential buyers. This will allow you to have an honest conversation with those interested in your home, while also giving you the most up-to-date information about your household’s pest management status and/or necessary repairs. Your ability to present this information at any point during the negotiating process will ultimately benefit your efforts and prevent the purchasing process from completely derailing.

Buying

While sellers are legally obligated to document any known termite-related problems, it’s entirely possible that damages have gone undocumented during this phase. As someone making a life-altering investment, you should schedule a termite inspection before agreeing upon or outlining any financial terms with your seller. Even if the seller provides a pest management record, you should still consider a second opinion to fully evaluate the property. Doing so will only assist you during in determining the home’s most fair value.

Refinancing

For those looking to refinance an existing home loan, you will encounter the same hindrances as those during the buying and selling process. An important consideration in this phase, however, is your homeowner’s insurance. Most policies cover structural weakening that is considered accidental or entirely unforeseen, which would entirely exclude a home’s termite infestation. As such, the costs to repair any harm caused by termites will undoubtedly need to be addressed in advance through the refinancing discussions. Scheduling an evaluation now could save you thousands of dollars in repairs and increase your chances of receiving a favorable home loan rate.

Need termite control? Check out our residential termite inspection, or contact Holder’s today for inquiries.